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SAN JOSE, CA -Dillon Dobson hit a tiebreaking two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning to propel the San Jose Giants to a 4-2 victory over the Lancaster JetHawks on Wednesday evening at Municipal Stadium. With the win, the Giants (26-27) have taken two out of the first three games in the series and move back into a first-place tie with Modesto (26-27) in the second half North Division race.
Dobson (3-for-4, 2B, HR, 2 RBI) also singled and doubled as part of a three-hit night to lead San Jose at the plate. Heath Quinn (2-for-3, 2B, RBI) and Bryan Reynolds (2-for-4, 2B) added two hits apiece.
Three Giants relievers - Matt Krook, Heath Slatton and Dylan Rheault - combined to throw four scoreless innings to finish the game. Krook (4-9) was credited with the win after a scoreless top of the sixth out of the bullpen before Slatton kept the JetHawks off the board in the seventh and eighth. Rheault then worked a perfect top of the ninth for his 20th save of the season.
Lancaster jumped out early in the contest scoring single runs in the second and third innings to take a 2-0 lead. In the top of the second, San Jose starter Matt Solter plunked Wes Rogers with a pitch to start a rally. Back-to-back singles from Dillon Thomas and Mylz Jones followed to load the bases with one out before Chris Rabago lifted a sacrifice fly to right giving the JetHawks the lead.
An inning later, Yonathan Daza reached safely with one out on a fielding error committed by Ryan Howard at shortstop. A wild pitch then advanced Daza to second before Roberto Ramos delivered a two-out RBI single into right for a 2-0 Lancaster advantage.
The Giants though would tie the game with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth. Reynolds started the inning with a single. Jonah Arenado then smacked a double into the left field corner, however Reynolds was thrown out at home on the play as he attempted to score from first. Dobson followed by striking out for the second out of the inning, but after a walk to Matt Winn, Quinn came up and blasted a double off the fence in deep left center plating Arenado to cut the JetHawks lead in half. Ronnie Jebavy then stepped to the plate and grounded a single through the hole on the right side scoring Winn to tie the game 2-2.
Solter settled down to throw scoreless fourth and fifth innings for San Jose to complete his outing. Krook (1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO) was then summoned from the bullpen to begin the top of the sixth and he struck out two in a perfect inning to keep the game tied. The Giants then took their first lead of the game in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, Arenado drew a walk before Dobson crushed a 1-2 pitch over the fence in straightaway center field for a two-run homer. The home run, Dobson's 15th of the season, put San Jose in front by a 4-2 margin.
Lancaster threatened in the top of the seventh against Slatton (2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO), but came away empty-handed. Consecutive one-out singles from Wilson Soriano and Garrett Hampson put runners on first and second and brought the potential go-ahead run to the plate. However, Soriano was thrown out at third by the catcher Winn attempting to steal and then Slatton struck out Daza to quickly end the inning.
In the top of the eighth, Rogers singled with two outs for the JetHawks, but a Slattom strikeout of the next hitter, Thomas, retired the side.
Rheault (1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 SO) then entered for the top of the ninth with the score still 4-2 and breezed through a 1-2-3 inning to seal the victory.
Lancaster starter Brandon Gold (3-1) suffered the loss after yielding four runs (all earned) on eight hits over seven innings. He walked two and struck out two.
Notes
* The Giants improved to 10-2 in their last 12 home games.
* Dobson has 19 RBI's in his last 12 games (.356 AVG, 16-for-45, 3 HR).
* San Jose out-hit Lancaster 9-8.
* Arenado's double was his 30th of the season - tied for the league lead. He's hit 13 doubles over his last 21 games.
* Solter was making his first start since June 6. He pitched five innings with two runs (one earned) and five hits allowed. Solter walked one and struck out four.
* Rheault leads the California League in saves. He's 20-for-22 in save opportunities this season.
* The Giants and Nuts are tied for first in the second half North Division race with Visalia and Stockton both just one game back. 17 games remain in the regular season.
* Pitcher Drew Muren was added to San Jose's roster before the game on Wednesday. Muren signed with San Francisco as a free agent last week after he was released by the Arizona Diamondbacks. Pitchers Carlos Diaz and David Owen were placed on the 7-day disabled list.
On Deck
The Giants and JetHawks conclude their four-game series on Thursday afternoon with first pitch at Municipal Stadium scheduled for 12:30 PM. Shaun Anderson (2-1, 2.08 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Lancaster is expected to counter with Ty Culbreth (4-1, 3.51 ERA). For tickets, call (408) 297-1435 or visit sjgiants.com.
